Aggreko to provide power to Kwale sand mine in Kenya

Friday, 10 October 2014 11:54

Aggreko provided 250kVA of power to the Kwale Mineral Sands Mine when the project began. (Image source: Isuru Senevi/Flickr)Scotland-based power solutions company Aggreko has agreed to supply a 350kVA power package to the Kwale Mineral Sands Mine in southeast Kenya

The sand mine is being operated by Australian titanium producer Base Resources, said Aggreko in a statement. The electricity would be supplied through a full-lifecycle project power, right from project construction to development. The electricity would be used to power silt dam pumps — a process imperative for the mine to function. When existing power supply is down or when grid supplies fall short, Aggreko will provide emergency power to keep the mine functional.

This is the second time the company has supplied power to the Kwale Minerals Sand Mine. When the project was being constructed, the Scottish power utility provided a 200kVA power system on site to provide electricity to project offices and light up the mine.

David Edwards, general manager of Aggreko East Africa, said, “As mining continues its rapid expansion throughout the continent, the renting of critical power supplies is becoming increasingly prevalent. With eight service centres in Africa, supported by regional operations in Dubai and Paris, Aggreko provides an unparalleled level of service to the African mining sector. For our customers, this means they are working with the global market leader and yet, they are dealing with our people based locally.”

The Scottish company said that it is witnessing growth in demand for rental power within African mining companies. These firms are opting for rental solutions to back-up or supplement power from the local grid, or supply primary power for projects located off the grid.